Irish Govt Okays Harbours Amendment Bill 2014

The Irish Government has approved the draft general scheme of a new bill aimed at invigorating Ireland’s port sector, Irish Department for Transport, Tourism & Sport informed.

The Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2014 will pave way for the five designated Ports of Regional Significance in Drogheda, Dún Laoghaire, Galway, New Ross and Wicklow to transfer to local authority ownership at a future date, in line with Government policy to strengthen local government.

“This is an important Bill for the ports sector, which plays a major role in the Irish economy. The National Ports Policy encourages each port, whether small or large, to develop its full potential to ensure that they can all contribute to further growth in the ports sector. Transferring the five regional ports to local authority management at a future date will be the best way to protect their future and ensure good governance,” Minister Varadkar said.

Sea-borne freight through Ireland’s ports sector accounts for 84% of Ireland’s trade in volume and 62% in value terms. Many of Ireland’s major exporting sectors such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and food rely heavily on sea transport.

The Bill will also bring in higher standards for appointments to the boards at Ireland’s largest port companies at Dublin, Cork, Shannon Foynes and Waterford. It will set out specific skillsets for potential appointees, introduce term limits and make it a legal requirement for Chairmen-designate to appear before the relevant Oireachtas committee prior to their appointment. This is already a non-statutory Government requirement.

The draft Bill will now be considered by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport & Communications and following their consideration will then be submitted to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for legal drafting.